Beyond The Dark Knight

I saw The Dark Knight, again, last night. Yes it was my third time seeing it. And I plan on watching it at least one more time (maybe two more times) as I haven't seen it yet on the IMAX. I just love it. As a Batman fan, it has just completely enthralled me.

OK...if you haven't yet seen the movie...you should probably stop reading.

But anyway...I've really been thinking about what direction a potential third movie would go in. Granted Nolan hasn't signed on yet...but come on...a third film has to be in the works. From what I've always understood, Nolan has envisioned the series as a trilogy. And I know that Bale is signed on for three and I believe that Caine and Freeman...and maybe Oldman...are signed to three picture deals.

I think it's obvious...since the Joker didn't perish...that he would have inevitable been in the third movie. But we all know that's not going to happen now--with Ledger's untimely death. I guess it's conceivable somebody else could play the part...but I'm not even going to entertain that idea. To me the Joker is just not going to be in a third movie. I think that is a pretty safe assumption. But because of that tragedy, it's harder to gauge how the series will progress from a narrative standpoint.

But the big question is...what villain or villains do they get for a third movie?

I think it's completely plausible that Two-Face/Harvey Dent is not dead. That was really left pretty ambiguous (a memorial service with no body). Batman and Commissioner Gordan could have quietly just put Two-Face in Arkham Asylum. If Two-Face were to play a role in the film, that would provide some continuity, and let's be honest...Two-Face is one of Batman's better villains and Aaron Eckhart did a tremendous job playing Harvey and Two-Face. But on the other hand it might be better to look at The Dark Knight as a more contained film and having Two-Face in the movie would remind audiences of the Joker...and the character of the Joker is not going to show up. Plus...as I mentioned in the review...The Dark Knight is really an epic struggle involving Harvey Dent's soul and it just seems to me the end of the Dark Knight is a perfect conclusion to that storyline.

Let's take a step back...what do we know going into a third movie. We know--since Batman took the rap for Two-Face's crimes--that he's wanted by the Gotham Police and that he has probably lost whatever public support he had. But on the other hand these notions would fuel Batman's image as a vilgante. So maybe now criminals will think Batman has crossed the line (in killing people). So now in theory, Batman has, for better or worse, reinforced his image as an agent of fear to the Gotham underworld.

Therefore it's completely possible that maybe Batman descends to far into the darkness and he needs something to redeem him or provide some light to his life. Now this is where some people have been arguing that introducing Robin might work.

I'm not so sure.

I trust Nolan could work in Robin but I don't think that's the best route to take even if having a Robin is simply a sub-plot or something. I just don't like that direction...although I do like character of Robin. I just find it too problematic...in the world that Nolan has created...to have a teenage sidekick buddying around with the Dark Knight.

Actually the more I think about it, I believe that maybe the next villain in the movie that might work to bring the series full circle would be Talia, Ra's al Ghul's daughter. In the past she was pretty much just a love interest for Batman but recently they have amped up her villainy traits and she would be a worthy opponent. And then I believe they could work in Catwoman as well. It seems that Nolan can effortlessly work in two villains per movie and not have it feel contrived.

So there you have it...two femme fatales in the next movie. Nolan's always kind of had that film noir feel to a lot of his films so maybe he can just play that up more in the third installment.